Low calorie, high fiber laxative

ABSTRACT

A natural fiber laxative is provided which consists of psyllium husk, apple fiber, fructose, gum arabic and flavorants. The psyllium husk and the apple fiber constitute together at least 75% by weight of the composiiton. The granular components are controlled to have a particle size less than that determined by a No. 50 mesh, thereby improving mouthfeel. The composition is, in addition to being all natural, low in calorie and high in fiber and when mixed with water has a palatable mouthfeel.

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a low calorie, high fiber laxative andmore specifically to such a laxative which is mixable with water for useas a laxative and which may be used in conjunction with a medicallysupervised dietary program to impart a felling of satiety.

Dietary fiber is that portion of plant substances which are resistant todigestion. There is both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiberpasses through the digestive system substantially intact. It passesthrough more quickly than does soluble fiber and as such helps preventconstipation and also helps in treatment of diverticulosis and irritablebowel syndrome. It has recently been suggested that insoluble fiber maylessen the risk of colon cancer by passing carcinogens through thesystem more quickly.

Soluble fiber absorbs water. It does not dissolve in water but ratheracts like a sponge in the small intestine and stomach, giving a feelingof satiety and permitting slow food absorption so as to make it usefulin weight control and the treatment of diabetes. Soluble fiber is foundin fruits and vegetables, especially in citrus fruits and apples.

Among the known sources of fiber usable as a laxative is psylliumpowder. Various commercial products, containing psyllium powder arepresently sold. Examples of such products are Fiberall, made by RydelleLaboratories, Inc. of Racine, Wis., a bulk forming laxative whichcontains refined hydrophilic mucilloid extracted from the husk ofpsyllium seed, and Metamucil made by Proctor and Gamble of Cincinnatti,Ohio, a bulk laxative containing hydrophilic mucilloid derived from thehusk of psyllium seed. Fiberall and Metamucil are both available inflavored and in unflavored forms. These products contain artificialingredients and/or are high in calorie.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,232 discloses a fiber-containing nougat type candy.The main source of fiber in the candy is cereal bran, however,alternative sources of fiber disclosed in the patent are psyllium powderand apple fiber. The '232 Patent also contains among other ingredientsgum arabic and a non-sucrose sweetener.

Dry fiber products which incorporate psyllium powder are disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,551,331; 4,565,702; 4,609,831; and 4,668,519.

For people who need to improve bowel regularity and who are health anddiet conscious, it is preferable to use a high fiber laxative which ismade with all natural constituents and which is low in calories.Additionally, such a product should have both an appealing flavor andconsistency. The cost of the product is also important since dry fiberbulking agents unlike other laxative formulations, are intended forlong-term daily use. By itself psyllium powder although a good source offiber is expensive. Further, psyllium powder has a gritty, granularconsistency when mixed with water and this consistency is not made morepalatable by the use of flavoring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a laxative bulkingagent which is relatively low in cost, high in soluble fiber, low incalories, appealing in flavor and mouthfeel and all natural.

Brief Description

In one embodiment of the present invention, a dry high fiber laxative isprovided which incorporates psyllium powder, apple fiber, appleflavoring, fructose and gum arabic. The psyllium powder and the applefiber together constitute about 75% by weight of the composition. Thepsyllium powder, apple fiber and fructose all have a small particlesize, no greater than approximately a 50 mesh size in that embodiment.The laxative is low in calories, high in dietary fiber, all natural, andrelatively low in cost. Additionally, it has an acceptable flavor andconsistency.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The laxative of the present invention is comprised of psyllium husks,apple fiber, fructose, spray dried apple flavor, and spray dried gumarabic.

Psyllium husk is the clean, dried seed coat obtained from the seeds ofcertain plants including Plantago Ovata Forskal. Psyllium husk iscommercially available in two purity levels-85% and 95% pure husk. Theimpurity is substantially endosperm from the seed. Psyllium seed husk isa natural polysaccharide composed of about 98% mucilage. In certainpreparations it acts as expanded, indigestible, unabsorbed materialwhich increases the bulk of the intestinal contents, thereby producingreflex peristalsis and defecation. Psyllium is an excellent source ofdietary fiber, the unabsorbed portion of ingested carbohydrate in ourdiet.

Apple fiber is a high quality source of both soluble and insolubledietary fiber. It is high in pectin and therefore has excellent bindingproperties. Apple fiber is manufactured by removing the juice from theapple by a natural pressing process. The solids are then dried andground into uniform particle sizes. Apple fiber is a less expensivesource of fiber than is psyllium. Appropriate apple fiber, for use inthe present composition, may be obtained from Tastee Apple inNewcomertown, Ohio.

Fructose is a monosaccharide and is the sweetest of all naturallyoccurring sugars. Fructose, usable in the product of the presentinvention is obtainable under the trademark "Crystar" sold by A.E.Staley Mgf. Co. in Decatur, Ill. Fructose has, in addition to itsintense sweetness, flavor enhancing capabilities and a clean lightmouthfeel. Additionally, it has been found that oral ingestion offructose containing solutions can reduce appetite.

Gum arabic is produced by trees of the genus Acacia. Gum arabic isalmost completely soluble in water and is used as a stabilizer in food.Gum arabic's main function in food is to impart desirable qualitiesthrough its influence over the viscosity, body and texture of foods andin the product of the present invention it is also used to enhance themouthfeel of the product, and to add additional fiber content to theproduct.

Any appropriate, natural apple flavor may be used in the product of thepresent invention, but preferably a spray dried flavor is used. Appleflavor has been found to be a particular acceptable flavor to mostpeople.

The mouthfeel of a laxative such as the laxative of the presentinvention is important. Psyllium containing products tend to be grittyand as such unpalatable. The product of the present invention has asuperior mouthfeel which is achieved by controlling the particle size ofthe psyllium, apple fiber, and fructose components. It is important thatthe particles of all of the components in the product be smaller than apredetermined size. A preferred size is that of No. 50 U.S. StandardScreen. However, powders with particle sizes as great as a 40 mesh maybe used to form an acceptable product. In one embodiment, thespecification called for 98% of the particles to pass through a No. 50mesh. The mouthfeel is also enhanced by the gum arabic.

A preferred weight percentage and an acceptable weight percentage rangefor the product of the present invention are set forth as follows:

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                                     Preferred Weight                                                                           Weight Percentage                                   Ingredient   by Percent   Range                                               ______________________________________                                        Psyllium Husk                                                                              48%          40-58%                                              Apple Fiber    32.5%      23-40%                                              Fructose     17%          12-24%                                              Apple Flavor  2%            1-4.5%                                            Gum Arabic     0.5%       0.3-2%                                              ______________________________________                                    

The product of the present invention is a brownish gray powder which isintended to be mixed with water prior to ingestion. The recommendeddosage of powder is a 7 gram dosage which contains approximately 9.1calories per dose; between 44-49% carbohydrates by weight, as measuredby the ASTA method; about 7% pectin by weight, as measured by the AOACmethod, a moisture content of not more than 8% by weight as measured bythe U.S.P. method, and a swell volume of approximately 55-60 ml per gramas measured by the U.S.P. method.

All of the ingredients of the present invention are natural. The use offructose permits natural sweetening without excess calories and adds tothe feeling of satiety imparted by the bulking effect of the psyllium.

What is claimed:
 1. A natural fiber laxative consisting essentiallyof:psyllium husk, apple fiber, fructose, gum arabic and flavorants, saidpsyllium husk and said apple fiber constituting together at least 75% byweight of said composition, said psyllium husk being between 40% to 58%by weight of said composition, and said apple fiber being between 23%and 40% by weight of said composition.
 2. The natural fiber laxative ofclaim 1 wherein said psyllium husk is about 48% by weight of saidcomposition.
 3. The natural fiber laxative of claim 2 wherein said applefiber is about 32% by weight of said composition.
 4. The natural fiberlaxative of claim 3 wherein said fructose is about 17% by weight of saidcomposition.
 5. The natural fiber laxative of claim 3 wherein saidflavorant is natural apple flavor.
 6. The natural fiber laxative ofclaim 1 wherein said apple fiber is about 32% by weight of saidcomposition.
 7. The natural fiber laxative of claim 1 wherein saidfructose is between 12% to 24% by weight of said composition.
 8. Thenatural fiber laxative of claim 1 wherein said flavorant is naturalapple flavor.
 9. The natural fiber laxative of claim 8 wherein saidapple flavor is between 1% to 4.5% by weight of said composition. 10.The natural fiber laxative of claim 9 wherein said gum arabic is about0.5% by weight of said composition.
 11. The natural fiber laxative ofclaim 8 wherein said apple flavor is about 2% by weight of saidcomposition.
 12. The natural fiber laxative of claim 1 wherein said gumarabic is between 0.3% to 2% by weight of said composition.
 13. Thenatural fiber laxative of claim 1 wherein substantially all granularcomponents of said agent are below a No. 40 mesh size.
 14. The naturalfiber laxative of claim 1 wherein substantially all granular componentsof said agent are below a No. 50 mesh size.